Game of the Week: Silverton football faces Lebanon in high-profile matchup
Pete MartiniSILVERTON — Silverton and Lebanon have made it an annual tradition to let one point separate the two teams on the field.
The Foxes lost to eventual state champion Lebanon 21-20 in 2016, then beat the Warriors 31-30 in 2017, and 37-36 last season.
No. 4 Silverton heads to No. 5 Lebanon this Friday in another heavyweight Mid-Willamette Conference battle that will generate interest statewide.
“This year, we’re expecting another tight game, and we know it’s going to be physical. Hopefully, we’ll be able to come out on top,” said Silverton senior running back Hayden Roth, who has rushed for 141 yards and five touchdowns. “I think it’s going to be just pure grit that’s going to help us pull ahead.”
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Both teams enter the game with 2-0 records, and this will be the first big test for the Foxes, who beat Central 50-0 in the season opener, and South Albany 46-7 last week.
“A win is a win, so we’ll take anything. They are obviously tough and competitive. They always are, they are well-coached,” Silverton coach Josh Craig said. “It’s going to be a physical game, it’s going to be scrappy. I think the team that plays the cleanest will probably come out with it.”
Silverton has a young quarterback in sophomore Jordan McCarty, who has passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns this season, while also piling up 161 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
“A lot of people see a very good athlete, and that’s what he is, but he’s incredibly coachable too,” Craig said. “He learns quick, and he’s very eager. He’s just a good leader.”
Friday’s high-profile game is one the Foxes want to win, of course, but Craig said it’s important to keep it in perspective.
“There’s a lot of excitement around this game, there always is,” he said. “But win or lose, it’s a Week 3 game, so there’s a lot more season left regardless. We want to win, obviously, but there’s a lot of season left so being healthy at the end of it is key. Also learning from our mistakes because we’re going to make them, win or lose.”
Game of the Week
Matchup: Silverton at Lebanon
Time: 7 p.m. Friday
Head coach: Silverton (Josh Craig); Lebanon (Ty Tomlin)
About the teams: Silverton — The Foxes are ranked No. 4 in the Class 5A Coaches Poll, and No. 6 in the OSAA rankings. Silverton is 2-0 this season, with wins against Central and South Albany. The Foxes have outscored opponents 96-7 this season. The seven points allowed ties Silverton for second-best in the state at the 5A level, behind only North Bend (six points); Lebanon — Lebanon is ranked No. 5 in the Coaches Poll and No. 7 in the OSAA rankings. Lebanon is 2-0 this season with wins against Corvallis and Dallas, and they have outscored opponents 90-48.
Friday’s Mid-Valley games
Grant at West Salem, 7 p.m.
Tualatin at McNary, 7 p.m.
Sprague at Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
South Salem at McMinnville, 7 p.m.
North Salem at Dallas, 7 p.m.
McKay at South Albany, 7 p.m.
Silverton at Lebanon, 7 p.m.
West Albany at Central, 7 p.m.
Cottage Grove at Stayton, 7 p.m.
North Marion at Cascade, 7 p.m.
Woodburn at Molalla, 7 p.m.
Salem Academy at Amity, 7 p.m.
Blanchet at Riverside, 7 p.m.
Dayton at Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
Scio at Santiam Christian, 7 p.m.
Willamina at Yamhill-Carlton, 7 p.m.
Kennedy at Santiam, 7 p.m.
Regis at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.
Gervais at Culver, 7 p.m.
Colton at Sheridan, 7 p.m.
Jefferson at Coquille, 7 p.m.
Central Linn at Chemawa, 7 p.m.
Lowell at St. Paul, 7 p.m.
Glendale at Perrydale, 7 p.m.
Falls City at Hosanna Christian, 7 p.m.
Pete Martini covers high school and college sports for the Statesman Journal. You can contact Pete at pmartini@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6730 and follow @PeteMartiniSJ
